Special proved useless on the racetrack, but she was retained for the Claiborne Farm broodmare band based on reports that she had looked exceptional in training prior to experiencing serious respiratory bleeding in her only start. The promise she had shown as an unraced youngster was borne out by her record in the breeding shed. The best producing daughter of the fine broodmare Thong, she has established a branch of the Rough Shod II family that includes the excellent sires Nureyev, Sadler's Wells and Fairy King.Race record

1start, 0wins, 0seconds, 0thirds, US$0As an individual

A bay mare, Special was slightly back at the knee and was a known bleeder. She was said to have had a kindly disposition and a strong maternal instinct.As a producer

Special produced 10 named foals, of which five started and won. Her important foals are as follow:

Kilavea (1974, by Hawaii) never raced but produced English Group III winner Kiliniski (by Niniski). She is the second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Grade I winner Bienamado and the third dam of seven stakes winners including 2014 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (ENG-I) Madame Chiang and Brazilian Group III winner Hot Thong.

Fairy Bridge (1975, by Bold Reason) never won a stakes but was unbeaten in two starts and was the Irish champion 2-year-old filly of 1977. Her first foal is multiple Grade I winner Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer), 14 times the leading sire on the combined English/Irish general sire list and a three-time champion sire in France. To repeated covers by Northern Dancer, Fairy Bridge also produced 1996 French champion sire Fairy King,1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-I) winner Tate Gallery, Irish Group III winner Fairy Gold and stakes winner Puppet Dance. Fairy Bridge is also the dam of stakes-placed Fairy Dancer (by Northern Dancer's great son Nijinsky II), third dam of 2011 Polish champion older male Inheritor.

Nureyev (1977, by Northern Dancer) was the French champion miler of 1980. He led the French general sire list in 1987 and was quite successful in England and the United States as well. According to The Jockey Club, he sired 135 stakes winners.

Number (1979, by Nijinsky II) was a multiple Grade II winner on the track. She is the dam of 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-I) winner Jade Robbery and Grade III winners Numerous and Chequer, all by Mr. Prospector. She is also the second dam of Irish Group II winner Lizard Island and the third dam of 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-I) winner Corinthian, Grade II winner Desert Hero and Irish Group III winner Six of Hearts.

Bound (1984, by Nijinsky II) won the listed Churchill Downs Breeders' Cup Stakes in 1987 and was Grade I-placed. She is the dam of 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) winner Archipenko (by Kingmambo) and Grade III-placed listed stakes winner Limit (by Cox's Ridge), dam of listed stakes winners Total (by Forest Wildcat) and Cease (by War Chant). Bound is also the second dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame and the third dam of Japanese Group II winner Asian Winds and Grade III winners Size and Carve.

Foaled in Kentucky, Special was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. She was pensioned in 1993 after failing to get pregnant in 1991 or 1992. She died in 1999 and is buried at Claiborne's Marchmont division.Pedigree notes

Special is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch and to 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-II) winner Lisadell, dam of three stakes winners including 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-I) winner Fatherland (by Sadler's Wells). Special is also a half sister to multiple Grade I winner King Pellinore (by Round Table); to stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus), dam of multiple stakes producer Pump (by Forli); to Handsewn (by Sir Ivor), dam of Irish Group III winner Festival Hall (by Sadler's Wells) and Grade III winner Hymn (by Fairy King); and to Geiger Counter (by Mr. Prospector), a useful sire. Special's dam Thong placed in three stakes and is a full sister to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, whose seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion sprinter and older male Belted Earl (by Damascus). Thong is also a full sister to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and the good stakes winner Lt. Stevens, both good sires. In addition, Thong is a half sister to Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time American champion filly Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and second dam of 1973 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-I) winner Cellini, 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-I) winner Take Your Place and the crack turf mare Drumtop, dam of the good Northern Dancer stallion Topsider. Thong and her siblings were produced from Rough Shod II (by Gold Bridge), whose dam Dalmary won the 1934 Yorkshire Oaks.